The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-10
EDUCATION FOR FARMERS.
Governor S. d. Lee on the Beneficial!
Effects of tho mississippi Agricultural
College.
From tbc WrcElv Nnps and Courier

Governor S. d. Lee on the Bcnoficia!
Effects of tho mississippi Agricultural
College.
From TIC Weekly Ne,cs and Courier.
There is no doubt in my mind, as to
the effect of this college upon the agri-
culture and general industries of Mis-
sissippi. Its establishment was most
opportune. 1t has succeeded in arrestipg
the attention of our farmers, and point.
ing them to the careless system of agri-
culture in the State, resulting in grad
ual exhaustion of the soil and consequent
lesseniDg of the yield of crops, which
has tendency to depress farmers gener-
ally. It has pointed out also that the
soil is not an inexhaustible mine, but
that it must be carefully and intelljgently
worked to preserve its fertility. That to
work land that is nearly worn out in
crops of cotton, corn, &C., without fertil-
lizing, or gradually restoring its fertility,
will not yield sufficient to pay wages or
profit, but that such lands must be re.
stored at less expense and labor, and by
resorting mainly to stock raising to get
profits from these poor lands while they
are being restored for future crops.
These facts, mainly demonstrated at
the college in practice, and taught in
addresses and bulletins in various Sec
tions of the State by the faculty, in hold.
ing farmers institutes, and also through
the teachings of students attending the
college, are producing practical results
and bearing fruit. A more diversified
and careful system of farming is being
adopted. The elementary principles of
common-sense farming, so long diregard-
ed, are now being resurrected and fol-
lowed. The college, its workings and
teachings, are regarded as reliable aids
in adopting more varied and careful,
methods. Citizens from all sections OF
the State visit the college to be informed
before starting in new enterprises in ag-
riculture. Most of the creameries in the
State have been started and managed by
graduates and students of the college.
Stock raisers generally visit or apply to
the college for information as to the con-
struction of barns, sheds and silos, and
as to the caring for of imported stock,
and feeding and handling Of stock. The
faculty of the college are invited to meet
the farmers and discuss with them the
best methods of farming. They are un.
able to attend half of these invitations.
Last year they held eight farmers insti.
tutes, and individual members of the
faculty attended as many more gather.
ings by invitation.
At Dairynan and Fruit Growers
Convention, to be held in Jackson, in
February, gotten up by the Illinois Cen.
tral Railroad, and at which there will be
q general attendance from the West and
South, three of the faculty of the college
are booked for addresses on Southern
native grasses, how to make a creamery
pay, how shall we regain lost fertility to
soil, and showing tie practical character
of our work, and the estimate in which
it is held by others.
Now as to the students and graduates.
We have only been in operation six
years. Only few classes have gradu-
ated. 1t is yet too soon to speak posi-
lively as to the work of graduates. At
his present writing there are thirty y.seven
living graduates; sixteen of this number
are engaged in farming. Most of the
others are teaching schools, to obtain
means to farm, as far as can learn.
The demand for good teachers in schools
is great, and it requires considerable cap
ital to start even small farm, and most
of our graduates are young men OF mod
crate means. Out of the last graduating
class, (s6) six out of eleven are farming.
-Four of the creameries in the State were
started and worked for time by one
graduate. Two are nov in charge OF q
former student, who left college to en-
gage in such work. Two students who
had to leave college for lack of funds,
after remaining two years, were recon-
mended and obtained places as managers
Of stock farms and dairy herds within the
last two weeks. We are constantly get.
ting applications for young men trained
at this college for such positions. All
over the State, as far IS | can learn, our
students who have attended the college,
are demonstrating this fact. and leading
in more careful and intelligent system
of agriculture made easy to them by their
theoretical and practical training at the
college.
Our college farm has 1000 acres Of
land, composed mostly ofportions ofworn
cut cotton plantations only $50 or 400
acres are rich enough to produce cotton
or corn. This is carefully worked with
paying crops, The. balance is used as
pasture lands and is yielding and paying
at the rate of $3.50 to 50 an acre in beef,
butter and milk sold from it. These pas.
ture lands, too, are rapidly recovering
their fertility, and about every two years
are doubling their capacity for feeding
stock, by the increased yield of grass
growing on the lands. The college has
o herd of 300 animals, pure bred and
grade mostly. They are handled, fed and
MIXED by students. Our barns, sheds
silos creamery, dairy preparations ano
distribution of food to cattle, and all such
work, is done by students under skilfu
direction. All this is necessarily having
its influence in the State, and demon
strating, in an official object lesson, tt
/ our citizens and boys that the best, mos